Comment

Machinery does sound very useful. My main interest in the worker beyond being able to improve tiles immediately, is can it be used as a turn one scout to expand our view prior to building our colony? If it can't, can a solider unit? Being able to do a first turn scout prior to building our colony could allow us more leeway in picking our equipment (no need for retrograde thrusters if we can scout prior to building our colony).

Comment

Machinery does sound very useful. My main interest in the worker beyond being able to improve tiles immediately, is can it be used as a turn one scout to expand our view prior to building our colony? If it can't, can a solider unit? Being able to do a first turn scout prior to building our colony could allow us more leeway in picking our equipment (no need for retrograde thrusters if we can scout prior to building our colony).

You've got a two-hex radius view around your city site when it is first founded, IIRC. Turn one scouting is rendered moot.

"My nation is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine
"The subject of onanism is inexhaustable." --Sigmund Freud

Comment

Pioneering is a good one if taking Continental Surveyor and on a water map. If find that on maps where a coastal start and early Trade Routes aren't guaranteed I can research Pioneering about the same time I'd want to build the Trade Depot and Trade Units.